Emperor Dezong of Tang

Emperor Dezong of Tang (May 27, 742 – February 25, 805), personally name Li Kuo, is an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong.

His reign of 26 years is the third longest in the Tang dynasty (surpassed only by Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Gaozong).

Emperor Dezong starts out as a diligent and frugal emperor and he tries to reform the governmental finances by introducing new tax laws.

His attempts to destroy the powerful regional warlords and the subsequent mismanagement of those campaigns, however, results in a number of rebellions that nearly destroys him and the Tang Dynasty.

After those events, he dealts cautiously with the regional governors, causing warlordism to become unchecked, and his trust of eunuchs causes the eunuchs' power to rise greatly.

He is also known for his paranoia about officials' wielding too much power, and late in his reign, he does not grant much authority to his chancellors.

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